NOT everybody wants to slog up a mountain. The views can be disappointing, the wildlife non-existent, the experience downright unpleasant. By contrast, these three walks will have the pleasure hounds stretching out on their picnic blankets blowing smoke rings in the air - as magnificent views unfold in front of them for the minimum effort. Beddgelert and Aberglaslyn THE valleys of the Hindu Kush, the high peaks of Nepal, and the Alpine meadows of Switzerland - all are truly beautiful. But can they match the view of Nant Gwynant from the shores of Llyn Dinas, when a rain shower has swept across the valleys and the hills are etched against a blue sky? Well, probably - but it's much easier to get to Beddgelert. And I would certainly argue that few other places offer the same quality of landscape. Everything is just right. The village of Beddgelert for a start, almost organic in the way its solid stone cottages cluster around the banks of the Glaslyn, is wonderfully sheltered by the oak-clad little hillocks that surround it. It's perfect, it's like nowhere else in the world, it's Welsh. So any walk in this corner of Wales is bound to be good. And for my money, the loop around Beddgelert and Aberglaslyn is the best gentle walk in Snowdonia. From the village, the walk heads along an easy level path by the banks of the Gwynant to Llyn Dinas - a site of great historical and mythological importance, said to be the place that the wizard Merlin buried his treasure. From the shores of the lake, a stiff climb leads to a section of open hillside and a flavour of hillwalking. The views from up here are some of the best in Snowdonia. Easier walking leads down a narrow green valley to the bottom of the famous Aberglaslyn pass. This beautiful gorge has been an essential part of tourist itineries for centuries. But walking up it is far better than driving down it. The riverside path is quite adventurous, with iron spikes aiding your passage on some sections. These focus the mind in winter, when the river foams angrily beneath your feet. The final section is a gentle stroll through farmland back to Beddgelert. Since this is a route suitable for all the family, the numerous tea shops and cafes in the village will be welcome sights. | 
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